Take-up mechanism for knitting-machines.



4 SHEETS-SHEET .1.

PATENTED MAY 5, 1903. R. W. SCOTT & L. N. D. WILLIAMS. TAKE-UP MECHANISMFOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, 1902.

m w u HQMODEL.

No. 727,465. PATENTED MAYVI5, 1903.

SCOTT & L. N. D. WILLIAMS.

UP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

TAKE- APPLIOATION FILED APR. 10, 1902.

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NO MODEL.

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PATENTED MAY 5, 1903. R. W. SCOTT & L. N. D. WILLIAMS. TAKE-UP MECHANISMFOR KNITTING MAOHINESL APPLICATION FILED APR.10, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

I! lllllllllllllll! Wc'fiwssasv- 217%4 No. 727,465. PATENTED MAY 5,1903. R. W. SCOTT & L. N. D. WILLIAMS. TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR KNITTINGMACHINES.-

APPLICATION FILED APR.10, 1902. NO MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

HE NORRIS PEYERS CO PNOYO T N D C I SUNIIFE STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

PATENT OEETcE.

ROBERT \V. SCOTT, OF PHILADELPHIA, AND LOUIS N. D. WILLIAMS, OFASHBOURNE, PENNSYLVANIA.

TAKE UP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 727,465, dated May 5,1903. Application filed April 10,1902. Serial No 102.250. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern.-

'Be it known that we, ROBERT W. SCOTT, of Philadelphia, and LOUIS N. D.WILLIAMS, of Ashbourne, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, citizens of theUnited States, have invented certain Improvements in Take-Up Mechanismfor Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention is equally applicable to plainknitting machines and tomachines for producing ribbed fabric and also to machines wherein thework runs upwardly from the needles of the head or downwardly therefrom,the invention being applicable especially to such machines as haverotating needle cylinders or heads or rotating needle cylinders anddials and non-rotating carriers for the needleoperating cams orstitch-forming wheels. In such machines the tube of knitted web turnswith the needle cylinder or head and the takeupmecl1anism,through whichthe tube of knitted fabric passes, must necessarily be mounted upon acarrier having like rotating movement. Hitherto in machines of thisclass various forms of take-up mechanism have been employed; but allhave been open to serious objection. If the frame which carries thetake-up rolls has no vertical movement and the rate of rotation of therolls can only be regulated by a spring or by frictional adjustment ofthe actuating mechanism, greater stress is applied to the fabric whenthe machine is producing tuck-stitches than when it is producing plainstitches, because a given length of tuckwork is necessarily knittedslower than the same length of plain work, while the movement of therolls is the same in either case. There vertical movement of theroll-carrying frame is permitted, the objection is in a measureovercome; but another evil arises from the fact that the drivingmechanism in such case is-usually so operated that sudden movements ofrelatively large extent are intermittently imparted to the take-up rollsand the constant repetition of these movements results in a jerkyblowlike motion, and when ratchet-Wheels and pawls are employed forimparting motion to the take-up rolls this motion is still morepronounced, and the most desirable characteristic of a take-up of thisclassthat is to say,

the application of weight without appreciable motion'is impossible. If,however, the rolls are driven by a belt whose operativeness is dependentupon the vertical movement of the take-up-roll frame, there need be noshortinterval of rapid take up followed by a relatively long period ofrest, as the driving mechanism can be readily arranged in such mannerthat the heavy swinging take-up frame has the least possible amount ofvertical movement, the operative periods of the take-up rolls being ofrelatively long duration and the intervals of rest being relativelyshort.

Our present invention comprises a construction whereby the desiredresults are attained without any rotation of the vertically movableframe which carries the take-up rolls, said frame in our present machinebeing hung or otherwise mounted upon the fixed frame of the machine andbeing consequently accessible at all times to the attendant, who cantest the degree of tension which is being imparted to the work or canreadily increase or diminish such tension without stopping or in any wayinterfering with the continuous operation of the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section ofsuificient of a knittingmachine to illustrate our present invention.Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line a a, Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a side view of part of the belt-and-pulley mechanism employedin connection with the take-up device; and Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, arevertical sectional views illustrating modifications of various parts ofthe machine within the general scope of our invention.

We have shown our invention as applied to a machine in which the knittedtube extends downwardly from the needle-cylinder, the take-up being somounted and weighted as to exert a downward pull upon the tube; but inapplying the invention to that class of machines in which the knittedtube is delivered upwardly from the needle cylinder or head the take-upmechanism will be so mounted and weighted as to exert an upward pullupon said tube.

The fixed table or bed of the machine is represented at 1, said tablehaving secured to it a cam-cylinder 2 and providing bearings for ICO .rolls 19, so as to cause the latter to rotate to the rotatingneedle-cylinder 3, which is provided with an annular rack 5, meshingwith a bevel-pinion 6 on a shaft 7, the latter being free to turn in oneof the standards 9, which support the table 1, and being provided withfast and loose pulleys 10 and 11 for the reception of the usualdriving-belt.

The standards 9 are supported upon a platform 12, which is mounted uponthe legs 13 of the machine, and to one of said standards is pivoted aswinging frame 14, provided at its free end with'a depending rod 15,upon which can be placed weights 16, as shown in Fig. 1.

Free to rotate in suitable guides on the swinging frame 14 is an annularplate or ring 17, which has bearings for the shafts of a pair of take-uprolls 19, said shafts being geared together at one end by spur-pinions20 and one of said pinions meshing with a spur-wheel 21 at one end of ashaft 22, which is likewise mounted in bearings on the ring 17 and isprovided with a worm-wheel 23, meshing with a worm 24, carried by ashaft 25, which is free to turn in a bracket 26 on the ring 17 and isprovided with a belt-pulley 27.

Depending from the needle-cylinder 3 of the machine are rods or struts29, two of which are shown in the present instance, although any desirednumber may be employed, these rods or struts engaging with the ring 17and also with a ring 30, which is mounted so as to be free to turn onthe platform 12 and carries the can 31, which receives the knitted webafter the same has been delivered by the take-up rolls 19.

Secured to the ring 30 is a bracket 32, which carries a short shaft 33,having a pinion 34 and beltpulley 35, the pinion 34 meshing with anannular rack 36 on the under side of the platform 12 and the pulley 35receiving a belt 37, which passes over idler-pulleys 39, carried by theforked upper end of the bracket 32and located one'on each side of thebelt'pulley 27, the belt 37 passing under said pulley 27, as shown inFig. 3. When, therefore, the pulley 27 is caused by the action of theweighted frame 14 to bear upon the belt 37, so as to tighten the same,movement of rotation will be imparted to said pulley 27 and thencethrough the worm and spur gearing described to the take-up ward eachother, and consequently to rise upon the knitted web until the'swingingframe 14 has been raised sufficiently to lift the pulley 27 from thebelt37 and slacken the same until it fails to transmit rotating movement tothesaid pulley, the movement being resumed, however, as soon as thepulley 27 again falls sufficiently to tighten the belt. The rising andfalling movements of the frame 14, however, are almost imperceptible,the effect of the operation beingan almost continuousturning of thefeed-rolls 19 and an even and regular pull or tension upon the web ofknitted fabric, there being none of that jerky or blow-like action towhich we have before alluded as being a characteristic objection tointermittent take-ups as heretofore employed in connection with thisclass of machines.

As there is no rotation of the swinging frame 14, the attendant can atany time manipulate the same to test the tension of the work or canincrease or diminish such tension by pressure of the hand upon the frameor by adding to or removing .the weights 16, whereas in that class oftake-ups in which the swinging frame carrying the take-up rolls rotateswith the needle-cylinder access to the take-up mechanism for the purposeof testing or varying the tension is impracticable without stopping themachine.

Instead of driving the rings 17 and 30 by rods or struts dependingdirectly from the needle-cylinder we may use gearing for the purpose,one form of such gearing being shown in Fig. 5 and comprising an annularrack 40 on the needle-cylinder meshing with a spur-pinion 41 at theupper end of a vertical shaft 42, which is adapted to suitable bearingson the fixed frame of the machine and has at the lower end a spur-pinion43,

meshing with an annular rack 44 on the ring 30, so as to rotate thelatter in unison with the needle-cylinder, one or more rods 45projecting from the ring 30 and engaging the ring 17, so as to transmitlike motion thereto.

Other means than those shown in Figs. 1 to 3 may also be employed forimparting rotating movement to the take-up rolls. For instance, in Fig.4 we have shown the beltpuliey 27 as adapted to engage the lower bightof an endless belt 46, depending from a pulley 47, which is carried by ashaft 49, mounted in a bracket 50, secured to and projecting downwardlyfrom the needle-cylinder structure of'the machine.

Forming part of or secured to the hub of the pulley 47 is a spur-wheel51, which meshes with an annular rack 52 on the fixed table or bed ofthe machine, whereby as the needle-cylinder rotates the spur-wheel 51and pulley 47 are also caused to rotate around their axis by reason ofsuch meshing of the rack and pinion. In this embodiment of our inventionthe takeup mechanism is rendered operative and inoperative in the samemanner as before by the tightening and loosening of the belt 46, due tothe rising and falling movements of the swinging frame 14. and of theparts carried thereby.

In that embodiment of our invention shown in Fig. 6 the belt-drive isabandoned and another form of frictional driving device is substitutedtherefor. In this'case the worm 24 is carried by a vertical shaft 25which has at its lower end a beveled friction-wheel, cooperating with acorrespondingly-beveled friction-ring 54 on the platform 12, the shaft25 being caused to rotate whenever the drop of the frame 14 brings thefriction-wheel into contact with said ring 54 and the rotation be- IIOing arrested Whenever the rise of the frame 14 carries the said wheelout of frictional contact with the ring.

In the machine shown in Fig. 1 weight is added to the swinging frame 14in order to impart the necessary tension to the fabric; but in somecases the Weight of the swinging frame and its appurtenances may be suchas to impart greater tension to the fabric than is needed, in which casea portion of the weight can be counterbalanced by means of weights 55,hung to a rope or chain 56, which is connected to the free end of theswinging frame 14 and passes over a sheave 57, mounted on one of thestandards 9 of the machine, as shown in Fig. 7.

l/Vhile we prefer in all cases to employ a pivoted and swinging framefor carrying the take-np-roll mechanism, a frame vertically guided onthe fixed frame of the machine may be employed for the purpose, ifdesired, such a frame being shown at 14* in Fig.8 and vertical guidanceof the frame being effected by means of rods 60, depending from theframe and adapted to openings in the platform 12. When the swingingframe is employed,however, the movement of that portion of the samewhich carries the take'up rolls is substantially in the plane ofmovement of the tube of fabric engaged by the rolls. Hence the swingingframe is quite as effective for the intended purpose as a frame which isdirectly guided in a vertical plane, while preferable to suchverticallyguided frame in other respects.

The different methods of carrying out our invention which we havedescribed serve to show that said invention is susceptible of manymodifications and is largely independent of mere matters of mechanicaldetail; but the modifications which we have selected for illustrationwill, it is believed, convey to those skilled in the art sufficientknowledge of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, we claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. The combination, in a knitting-machine, of a rotatingneedle cylinder or head, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-rollcarrier, a supporting-frame for said take-up-roll carrier, said framehaving movement in the plane of delivery of the knitted web but havingno rotative movement with the latter, and a ring rotatably mounted insaid frame and carrying the take-up-roll mechanism ,whereby the fabriccan be delivered from the rolls down through the ring, substantially asspecified.

2. The combination,inaknitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinderorhead, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, asupporting-frame for said rotating carrier, said frame having movementin the plane of delivery of the knitted web but having no rotatingmovement therewith, and take-uproll-operating devices dependent fortheir action upon such movement of said non-rotating frame and a ringrotatably mounted in said frame and carrying the take-up-roll mechanism,whereby the fabric can be delivered from the rolls down through thering, substantially as specified.

3. The combination,inaknitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinder orhead, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, asupporting-frame for said rotating carrier, which frame has movement inthe plane of delivery of the knitted web but has no rotating movementtherewith, and rotating devices for the take-up rolls having'as anelement a belt which is tightened and slackened bysaid movement of theframe, substantially as specified.

4. Thecombination,inaknitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinder orhead, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, asupporting-frame for said carrier, said frame having movement in theplane of delivery of the knitted web but having no rotating movementtherewith, and take-upsroll-drivin'g mechanism having as elements a beltwhich is tightened and slackened by said movement of the frame, abelt-pulley on the take-uproll carrier, and worm-gearing whereby themovement of said belt-pulley is transmitted to the take-up rolls,substantially as specified.

5. Thecombination in a knitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinderor head, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, asupporting-frame for said carrier, said frame having movement in theplane of delivery of the knitted web but having no rotative movementtherewith, a ring independent of but rotating with the take-up-rollcarrier, and take-up-roll-driving mechanism having certain elementswhich are carried by said ring and do not partake of the movement of thesupporting-frame of the take-up-roll carrier, substantially asspecified. v

6. The combination in aknitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinderor head, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, and asupporting-frame for said take-up-roll carrier pivoted to the fixedframe of the machine whereby it is incapable of rotating movement,

said supporting-frame having therein an opening through which the fabricmay be do livered from the take-up rolls, substantially as specified.

7. The combination in a knitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinderor head, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, asupporting-frame for said carrier pivoted to a fixed portion of themachine so as to be incapable of rotation but susceptible of movement inthe plane of delivery of the knitted web, said supporting-frame havingtherein an opening through which the fabric may be delivered from thetake-up rolls, and take-uproll-operatin g devices dependent for theiraction upon such movement of the frame, substantially as specified.

8. The combination in a knitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinderor head, a correa fixed portion of the frame so as to be incapable ofrotation but susceptible of movement in the plane of delivery of theknitted web, and rotating devices for the take-up rolls having as anelement a belt which is tightened and slackened by said movement of theframe, substantially as specified.

.9. The combination in a knitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinderor head, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, asupporting-frame for said carrier pivoted to a fixed portion of themachine so as to be incapable of rotation, but susceptible of movementin the plane of delivery of the knitted web, and take up roll drivingmechanism having as elements a belt which is tightened and slackened bysaid movement of the frame, a belt-pulley on the take-up-roll carrier,and worm-gearing whereby movement of said beltpulley is transmittedtothe take-up rolls, substantially as specified.

10. The combination in a knitting-machine, of the rotating needlecylinder or head, a correspondingly-rotating take-up-roll carrier, asupporting-frame for said carrier pivoted to a fixed portion of themachine so as to be incapable of rotation but susceptible of movement inthe plane of delivery of the knitted web, a ring independent of butrotating with the take uproll carrier, and take up-rolldriving mechanismhaving certain elements which are carried by said ring and do notpartake of the movement of the pivoted frame, substantially asspecified.

11. The combination in a knitting-machine, of a. rotating needlecylinder or head, a takeup-roll carrier rotatable with said cylinder, asupporting-frame therefor having movement in the plane of delivery ofthe knitted web but incapable of rotation, a ring independent of thetake up roll carrier and having no movement in the plane of delivery ofthe knitted web, take-up-roll-operating mechanism mounted partly uponsaid ring and partly upon the take-up-roll carrier, and means forrotating said ring and carrier simultaneously and in unison with therotation of the needlecylinder, substantially as specified.

12. Thecombination inaknitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinder orhead, atakenp-roll carrier, a supporting-frame therefor having movementin the plane of delivery of the knitted web but incapable of rotation, aring independent of the take-up-roll carrier but having no movement inthe plane of delivery of the knitted web, take-up-roll-driving mechanismmounted partly upon the take-up-roll carrier and partly upon said ring,and a rod projecting from the needle-cylinder structure and engagingwith the take-up-roll carrier, and ring so as to rotate the samesimultaneously and in unison with said needlecylinder, substantially asspecified.

13. The combination inaknitting-machine, of a rotating needle cylinderor head, a correspondinglyrotating take uproll carrier, asupporting-frame for the latter having movement in the plane of deliveryof the knitted web but incapable of rotation, a ring mounted on thefixed frame so as to be capable of rotation with the take-up-rollcarrier but having no movement in the plane of delivery of the knittedweb, a take up roll operating mechanism comprising gearing on therotatable take up roll carrier having as one of its elements abelt-pulley, and other gearing carried by the rotatable ring andcomprising a shaft with belt-pulley and pinion meshing with a fixed rackon the frame, a pairof idlerpulleys flanking the belt-pulley on thetakenp-roll carrier, and a belt passing over said idlers and around thedriving-pulley so as to engage the beltpulley on the take up rollcarrier, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT W. SCOTT.

LOUIS N. D. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

F. E. BECHTOLD, J os. H. KLEIN.

